Therapeutic Models

Our aim is to walk alongside the individual and work with him or her through the trauma and on to recovery

Current research has proven that two particular therapeutic models are successful in helping people who have suffered a traumatic incident and as a result are affected by symptoms of PTSD. These are Trauma-focused CBT and EMDR. Both of these models involve focus on the traumatic-incident. All ASSIST specialist therapist are trained and experienced in either one or both of these approaches. NICE Guidelines for PTSD note that non-directive therapeutic models are not effective in treating the after effects of trauma.

While we always work with evidence-based therapeutic models, ASSIST therapists do not believe that ‘One size fits all’. Every client who visits our service is an individual, and is treated as such. This means that we give time developing a relationship with our service users, finding out about their individual needs and what else is going on in their lives, and focusing our therapy on the needs identified by our clients themselves

We give great weight to Carl Roger’s Core Conditions:

Empathy

Congruence

Unconditional Positive Regard

Many people think of CBT as an impersonal, directive and often very brief therapy. We like to think of the ASSIST model as Person-Centered CBT — the combination of a therapeutic model that has been shown to work and which provides an individual with important coping strategies and tools, combined with respect for and understanding of people as human-beings.